should we be stocking up just in case

[DC2]

This is why it is important to note that just like any successful revolution, the responsibility for the future of the e-cig rests squarely on the shoulder of the individual. So stay informed. Visit sites like [/COLOR]CASA or your favorite E-cigarette Brand’s News Feed

Wow, Blu is referencing CASAA (even though the spelled it wrong) on their website.
I am not sure what to make of that, but it seems to be a good thing.

 

[Schnarph]

Interesting. That's like a anti-helmet law advocacy group with adds for helmets on their website. Maybe Blu can help us, they have certainly invested enough money into vaping to make fighting a government ban worth their while. Why am I not surprised?

 

[Baditude]

Wow, Blu is referencing CASAA (even though the spelled it wrong) on their website.
I am not sure what to make of that, but it seems to be a good thing.

Interesting. That's like a anti-helmet law advocacy group with adds for helmets on their website. Maybe Blu can help us, they have certainly invested enough money into vaping to make fighting a government ban worth their while. Why am I not surprised?

I think it is a good thing. We can certainly use their lobbying power on our side against Big Pharm and the FDA. Plus they have the advertising power and funds to get the word out to the general public that the smaller e-cig companies can't afford. Could you imagine a commercial by Bluecigs that alerts viewers of the government's intentions of banning a healthier alternative to smoking?

Having said that, I don't trust Big Tobacco's long term goals for e-cigs, or the regulation or distribution of nicotine e-liquid, whatever that might be. They are playing it pretty smart, having a foot on both sides of the fence. Tobacco sales have been declining and public sentiment for cigarettes with it. Getting into the next best thing (e-cigs) is the smart thing to do business wise.

 

[Archmachine]

This is what I'm thinking, too. Why would they ban e-cigs and leave regular tobacco products legal [for adults]?

I hate to think that I'm into yet another thing that's being targeted by the Feds. (AR-15 owner)

Ar-15 AND ecigs... yeah, youre going straight to jail!!

 

[Kidnapped]

I haven't read all 59 pages; but, thought I'd chime in, anyway. Here in Oklahoma, they're trying to classify vaping as the same thing as cigarettes, on the (really lame) pretense of "protecting minors..." Really, it's just a scam by the cigarette manufacturers to be able to corner the market and for the state to snag/steal some extra tax dollars. In the present "nanny state" we've allowed to develop, I wouldn't put anything past ANY government official or agency.

I'm already looking into DIY'ing; and, I'd LOVE to learn how to make a mod out of a flashlight!!!

Anyone have any ideas on how to distill the nicotine out of my tobacco stash, to turn it into a juice component??? (Feel free to contact me privately, if you have ideas about either...)

 

[The Ocelot]

Every new member should join CASAA. It only takes a minute and doesn't cost anything. We need to make our numbers known.

 

[EddardinWinter]

I'm thinking now that big tobacco co may well try to corner the "newbee" market. As far as mods and diy though, i guess they could get up on it but it shouldn't make a difference to the existing vendors..

I agree with that angle that BT is trying to work on the "Noob market". It is a recognition by BT that they cannot simply snuff vaping out. They are conceding that they must join it.

We are right on the cusp of winning this. A year ago, I knew zero vapers. Today, I know personally over a dozen. It is growing and growing fast. Tell your real world converts about CASAA.

This is a critical time. The FDA sees what is happening, too. They may recognize the gathering strength of the vaping community and make the regulations placed on vaping minimal. Or, they may see this is their last chance to stop it, and bring the hammer down hard. We may win or lose this fight in a way that dramatically effects vaping the next sixty days.

Join CASAA, donate your time, donate what financial support you can, attend meetings. They are our best defense.

 

[Mountain_Rain96]

Jeebus...I've been reading this thread for over two hours, and haven't even passed page 20...so what I say may have already been mentioned by someone, I don't know, but I have to get off my behind and begin the day.

I just joined CASAA, for obvious reasons, but I'm not panicking. I'm going to turn 50 in a couple of more months, and I've seen far too many instances where people have bought into the herd mentality and panicked, often in hilarious, and sometimes even in dangerous fashion. I'm not saying our rights as vapers are not, or could not be challenged or taken away, I know the threat is very real, and I even plan on donating money to the CASAA, once they send me their member verification link (haven't received it yet, what gives?), but I REFUSE to panick. I do know that someone else already mentioned this, but we, as humans, are incredibly, remarkably resiliant, and innovative. If vaping, and all the 'toys' that come with it are outright banned, someone somewhere else will come up with a legal way around it and start selling it 15 minutes before the ban. Or 15 weeks before, etc, etc.

Life is too short to spend it constantly worrying about things like this. In a twist of irony, just several days ago reading about this did, in fact, make my blood boil. Today, not so much. Not at all, in fact. Why? I guess I have a Zen-like attitude about it now. Just yesterday I visited my Dad in the hospital, and spent several hours with him. He's 70 years old. And for the first time ever, if you can understand this, I seemed to finally see, for the first time, just how frail and old he not only appears to be, but actually IS. I love my father dearly, and know that I could lose him at any time of any day. Same with my mother, brothers, my sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. My wife and I lost a son (13 years old) in 2003, and like I said, life is just too short to be obsessing over and worrying about things like this.

Whatever happens, I'll just deal with it. I can and WILL find alternatives, and there WILL be alternatives, eventually, or even immediately. There are alternatives NOW, if you can read, and google. It's not the end of the world. The bottom line is this: No matter what does happen, when it comes to anything smoking/vaping/whatever related, BT and the pharmaceutical companies will never see another red cent of my money. Not. One. Red. Cent.

 

[Baditude]

Something else i've been thinking of recently is the term "gateway". There is the obvious negative meaning for this word, but now i'm thinking that the beginners "cig-a-like" type e cigs are exactly that. A gateway device for people entering the vaping world. I don't know why i didn't see this before !. It actually wouldn't be a bad brand name either, as long as people didn't get the wrong idea !.

We've been seeing more and more new members come here very recently who have never smoked a cigarette in their life inquiring about e-cigs as a form of diet control, or for stress reduction, or just because it "looks interesting" and they want to fit in with their smoking or vaping peers.

I'm not sure how to view these people. They are thinking of starting a behavior that has unknown but possible risk factors that has previously been only used because of an existing addiction to nicotine. Even if they use a no-nicotine e-liquid, I can't say that I could comfortably recommend to one of these non-smoking "gateway" consumers an e-cig with a good conscience. But on the other hand I believe people should be free to choose what they want to do.

I even took this matter up with a CASAA member here who expressed her personal opinion to me in a PM, and she was going to bring the subject up to other CASAA members at their next board meeting as they do not currently have a policy concerning non-smoking consumers taking up e-cig.

 

[Baditude]

Just yesterday I visited my Dad in the hospital, and spent several hours with him. He's 70 years old. And for the first time ever, if you can understand this, I seemed to finally see, for the first time, just how frail and old he not only appears to be, but actually IS. I love my father dearly, and know that I could lose him at any time of any day. Same with my mother, brothers, my sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. My wife and I lost a son (13 years old) in 2003, and like I said, life is just too short to be obsessing over and worrying about things like this.

Thanks for sharing this, Mountain_Rain. I dealt with a similar situation about a year ago with my mother. She was in her mid-eighties and in relatively good health when she ended up in the ER with a suspected gall bladder attack. Further testing showed that she had an untreatable advanced cancer of the liver. She was dead within a few days of diagnosis.

As I took the trip out of town to visit my mother in the hospital for what would be the last time I would see her alive, I saw and bought my first disposable e-cigarette and used it over the next couple of days. Watching my mother die from cancer made me come to grips with my own mortality and the need to stop smoking immediately if I wished to stay alive.

Hence the reason that I chose the avatar that I have here on ECF. Can you see the symbolism of cigarettes loaded in a gun? Choosing to continue to smoke cigarettes is like choosing slow suicide. Those few days a year ago were the motivation I needed to finally quit a habit that I had for over 30 years. I thank God I found vaping and that it got me off and keeps me off the smokes.

 

[Mountain_Rain96]

Thanks for sharing this, Mountain_Rain. I dealt with a similar situation about a year ago with my mother. She was in her mid-eighties and in relatively good health when she ended up in the ER with a suspected gall bladder attack. Further testing showed that she had an untreatable advanced cancer of the liver. She was dead within a few days of diagnosis.

As I took the trip out of town to visit my mother in the hospital for what would be the last time that I would see her alive, I saw and bought my first disposable e-cigarette and used it over the next couple of days. Watching my mother die made me come to grips with my own mortality and the need to stop smoking immediately if I wished to stay alive.

Hence the reason that I chose the avatar that I have here on ECF. Can you see the symbolism of cigarettes loaded in a gun? Choosing to continue to smoke cigarettes is like choosing slow suicide. Those few days a year ago were the motivation I needed to finally quit a habit that I had for over 30 years. I thank God I found vaping and that it got me off and keeps me off the smokes.

Yes, I did 'get' the symbolism in your avatar, it's solemnly appropriate. I'm sorry about the loss of your mother.

 

[dbeast64]

Hence the reason that I chose the avatar that I have here on ECF. Can you see the symbolism of cigarettes loaded in a gun? Choosing to continue to smoke cigarettes is like choosing slow suicide.

I've often referred to smoking as "Suicide on an installment plan"

Sorry for the loss of your Mother

 

[wv2win]

I think it is a good thing. We can certainly use their lobbying power on our side against Big Pharm and the FDA. Plus they have the advertising power and funds to get the word out to the general public that the smaller companies can't afford. Could you imagine a commercial by Bluecigs that alerts viewers of the government's intentions of banning a healthier alternative to smoking?

Having said that, I don't trust Big Tobacco's long term goals for e-cigs, or the regulation or distribution of nicotine e-liquid, whatever that might be. They are playing it pretty smart, having a foot on both sides of the fence. Tobacco sales have been declining and public sentiment for cigarettes with it. Getting into the next best thing (e-cigs) is the smart thing to do business wise.

As always, DC, you provide us good information. I also agree that BT/Blu is a double edged sword in the fight to keep vaping alive. On the one hand, they have the money and lobbying power to help fight a complete ban. On the other hand, they are all about profit and their bottom line and thus have a "possible" hidden agenda when it comes to regulation. Namely, eliquid only being allowed in low (2mg/4mg) levels in sealed carts that fit the Blu stick PV. It's not hard to imagine them negotiating/supporting that type of regulation. As the old saying goes, "the devil is in the details".

 

[DJ RyckRak]

As always, DC, you provide us good information. I also agree that BT/Blu is a double edged sword in the fight to keep vaping alive. On the one hand, they have the money and lobbying power to help fight a complete ban. On the other hand, they are all about profit and their bottom line and thus have a "possible" hidden agenda when it comes to regulation. Namely, eliquid only being allowed in low (2mg/4mg) levels in sealed carts that fit the Blu stick PV. It's not hard to imagine them negotiating/supporting that type of regulation. As the old saying goes, "the devil is in the details".

'2-4mg in sealed carts' ...This is why I think that BT is only going to make a bit play- a 'showing' into the eCig business model. Levels that low would require continuous vaping to counteract nicotine withdrawal ! Instead of a patch, you would need a cig-a-like IV on a Pass-Through attached to your mouth. I started vaping at 18mg...and I'm down to 8-12mg now, and guessing that most formers are in that range- and I vape a lot ! There are some that are trying to quit that still have trouble at 24-36mg and WTA.
So, a BLU or Njoy with 4mg is not enough to cause any normal smoker to be satisfied. Maybe...BT/BF/FDA wants us to be on all of their vices together at the same time ???? Then, ecigs could be just another new market for them !

The little poking (lurking) around I have done does not indicate that BT is making any substantial investments in eCig production in the manufacturing, business end either here or in china. This leads me to believe that they know what the FDA is going to do...and they are not going to get on the backside of it. Some of the third tier players are 'toying' with this...but number one and two are not ???? If they had found this to be a market or if they thought there was a future, they would be accquiring and ramping up....'nothing' is not good sign.

For encouraging news... GrimmGreen reports last Friday that the former Surgeon General has joined nJoy's board.
Would that lead a little legit to vaping ? Maybe......maybe not.
(I got 'stung' a long time ago with a former defense secretary that joined the board of a company....
it went belly up in six months- and I lost a grand !)

 

[hejira]

Yes, the highest nicotine content of the "sealed cartridges" is 16mg. Enough to make people (maybe newbs) on edge and needing to buy more cartridges.

 

[Aheadatime]

I seemed to finally see, for the first time, just how frail and old he not only appears to be, but actually IS.

This is an increasingly rare trait amongst people now a days, imo. I smiled after reading this comment.

 

[J138]

Life is too short to spend it constantly worrying about things like this. In a twist of irony, just several days ago reading about this did, in fact, make my blood boil. Today, not so much. Not at all, in fact. Why? I guess I have a Zen-like attitude about it now. Just yesterday I visited my Dad in the hospital, and spent several hours with him. He's 70 years old. And for the first time ever, if you can understand this, I seemed to finally see, for the first time, just how frail and old he not only appears to be, but actually IS. I love my father dearly, and know that I could lose him at any time of any day. Same with my mother, brothers, my sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. My wife and I lost a son (13 years old) in 2003, and like I said, life is just too short to be obsessing over and worrying about things like this.

Whatever happens, I'll just deal with it. I can and WILL find alternatives, and there WILL be alternatives, eventually, or even immediately. There are alternatives NOW, if you can read, and google. It's not the end of the world. The bottom line is this: No matter what does happen, when it comes to anything smoking/vaping/whatever related, BT and the pharmaceutical companies will never see another red cent of my money. Not. One. Red. Cent.

These are perfect words and a great perspective. My thoughts are with you and your family at this time.

 

[NickSteel]

Jeebus...I've been reading this thread for over two hours, and haven't even passed page 20...so what I say may have already been mentioned by someone, I don't know, but I have to get off my behind and begin the day.

I just joined CASAA, for obvious reasons, but I'm not panicking. I'm going to turn 50 in a couple of more months, and I've seen far too many instances where people have bought into the herd mentality and panicked, often in hilarious, and sometimes even in dangerous fashion. I'm not saying our rights as vapers are not, or could not be challenged or taken away, I know the threat is very real, and I even plan on donating money to the CASAA, once they send me their member verification link (haven't received it yet, what gives?), but I REFUSE to panick. I do know that someone else already mentioned this, but we, as humans, are incredibly, remarkably resiliant, and innovative. If vaping, and all the 'toys' that come with it are outright banned, someone somewhere else will come up with a legal way around it and start selling it 15 minutes before the ban. Or 15 weeks before, etc, etc.

Life is too short to spend it constantly worrying about things like this. In a twist of irony, just several days ago reading about this did, in fact, make my blood boil. Today, not so much. Not at all, in fact. Why? I guess I have a Zen-like attitude about it now. Just yesterday I visited my Dad in the hospital, and spent several hours with him. He's 70 years old. And for the first time ever, if you can understand this, I seemed to finally see, for the first time, just how frail and old he not only appears to be, but actually IS. I love my father dearly, and know that I could lose him at any time of any day. Same with my mother, brothers, my sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. My wife and I lost a son (13 years old) in 2003, and like I said, life is just too short to be obsessing over and worrying about things like this.

Whatever happens, I'll just deal with it. I can and WILL find alternatives, and there WILL be alternatives, eventually, or even immediately. There are alternatives NOW, if you can read, and google. It's not the end of the world. The bottom line is this: No matter what does happen, when it comes to anything smoking/vaping/whatever related, BT and the pharmaceutical companies will never see another red cent of my money. Not. One. Red. Cent.

My sentiments exactly. I'll just have to do whatevers necessary.

 

[DJ RyckRak]

Bump one for CASAA !

If you have been following this thread...or are concerned about your future ability to vape-
Please consider joining CASAA, yours and our advocate for vaping rights.

It cost nothing..(unless you are able to give a few bucks)...
They represent vapers...like you and me....
There is more clout in numbers...
There is a wealth of free info there...
It could benifit you someday !


JOIN::: CASAA - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association

 

[Talyon]

Not sure exactly why I didn't sooner, but that's ok ive now joined casaa and well help any way I can.

Yes I'm stocking up a bit, to each there own. I do intend to DIY and cut down on the nic, but I'll never quit Vapeing.